Watch Description
What makes the Chicago 459 unique:Today, we’re pleased to showcase this stunning watch initially created by the Elgin National Watch Company in 1923 — the Chicago 459. The original dial features a spotless white background with Roman numeral hour indicators. Its blue minute and hour hands shine distinctly from the dial’s pristine background and dark numerals. We matched the pocket watch’s elegant style with our Machined Titanium case, and we topped off the piece’s sophisticated design with a nickel-plated crown. Our case’s open back reveals robust and intricate gold-plated gears within its 345-grade open-face movement. You can view the watch’s gorgeous 17 ruby and sapphire jewels atop its ¾ plate. Finally, we matched the watch design with our one-of-a-kind Merlot leather watch strap and Machined Titanium buckle, further emphasizing the piece’s refined style. The Elgin National Watch Company originally crafted the Chicago 459’s pocket watch in Elgin, Illinois, in 1923 — the same year that Walt and Roy Disney founded The Walt Disney Company. Initially called the Disney Brothers Cartoon Studio, The Walt Disney Company heavily shaped contemporary entertainment and culture. In 1923, Walt Disney moved to Hollywood from Kansas City after his previous company, Laugh-O-Gram Studio, went bankrupt after Disney made the silent short film Alice’s Wonderland. Roy and Walt founded the Disney Brothers Cartoon Studio after the film distributor Margaret J. Winkler offered money to create more short films based on Walt’s Alice character. Walt Disney made 57 silent short films in the Alice Comedies series from 1923 to 1927. In 1928, Disney released his first sound film and breakout hit Steamboat Willie, laying the groundwork for Disney’s immense global success.
Movement Manufacturer Information
The movement inside of this watch was made by Elgin Watch Company. We call this model "The Chicago" because of the company's proximity to the city.
Also known as Elgin National Watch Company, Elgin wasn't only the largest watch manufacturer in the United States, but the largest watch manufacturer in the world for almost 100 years, operating from 1864-1964. The company often used a depiction of father time on advertisements. At one point, the company was making 7,500 watch movements per week and had 2,300 employees. The factory was demolished in 1966 and replaced with a shopping center.
Legal Disclaimer: All product and company names, logos, brands, and other trademarks featured or referred to within Vortic's products and services are the property of their respective intellectual property rights holders, if any. Those intellectual property rights holders, other than Vortic, LLC, are not affiliated with Vortic, LLC, our products, or our website. They do not sponsor or endorse our materials.
Watch Specifications
- Manufacturer: Vortic Watch Company
- Warranty: Full 1-Year Warranty
- Case Dimensions:
- Diameter: 47mm
- Thickness: 12mm
- Lug to Lug: 55mm
- Lug Width: 22mm
- Case Material: Machined Titanium
- Crown/Hardware: Nickel Plated
- Water Resistance: 1 ATM
- Crystals: Sapphire
- Case Back: Stainless Steel
- Strap: Leather
Movement
- Manufacturer: Elgin Watch Company
- Serial Number: 25874898
- Manufacture Year: 1923
- Function: Manual Wind
- Jewels: 17 Jewels
- Hands: Original
- Size: 12s
- Power Reserve: ~36 Hours
Today, we’re pleased to showcase this stunning watch initially created by the Elgin National Watch Company in 1923 — the Chicago 459. The original dial features a spotless white background with Roman numeral hour indicators. Its blue minute and hour hands shine distinctly from the dial’s pristine background and dark numerals. We matched the pocket watch’s elegant style with our Machined Titanium case, and we topped off the piece’s sophisticated design with a nickel-plated crown. Our case’s open back reveals robust and intricate gold-plated gears within its 345-grade open-face movement. You can view the watch’s gorgeous 17 ruby and sapphire jewels atop its ¾ plate. Finally, we matched the watch design with our one-of-a-kind Merlot leather watch strap and Machined Titanium buckle, further emphasizing the piece’s refined style. The Elgin National Watch Company originally crafted the Chicago 459’s pocket watch in Elgin, Illinois, in 1923 — the same year that Walt and Roy Disney founded The Walt Disney Company. Initially called the Disney Brothers Cartoon Studio, The Walt Disney Company heavily shaped contemporary entertainment and culture. In 1923, Walt Disney moved to Hollywood from Kansas City after his previous company, Laugh-O-Gram Studio, went bankrupt after Disney made the silent short film Alice’s Wonderland. Roy and Walt founded the Disney Brothers Cartoon Studio after the film distributor Margaret J. Winkler offered money to create more short films based on Walt’s Alice character. Walt Disney made 57 silent short films in the Alice Comedies series from 1923 to 1927. In 1928, Disney released his first sound film and breakout hit Steamboat Willie, laying the groundwork for Disney’s immense global success.
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The Movement
The engine that powers this watch is an antique American pocket watch movement. All the gears and springs that make it tell time are roughly 100 years old on average. We call these watches the American Artisan Series because we're celebrating the history and legacy of the artisan watchmakers who built this engineering marvel a century ago in the United States.
The Story
Today most pocket watches are scrapped for the gold or silver of the case (the outside of the antique timepiece), leaving the inside (what we call the "movement") as trash.
We take pride in upcycling these pieces of American history by salvaging as many as we can, then preserving them inside our wristwatches.
Our expert team of watchmakers restores the antique movement and then we manufacture a custom wristwatch case here in Fort Collins, Colorado.
The Strap
We partnered with Worn & Wound to produce a custom set of straps for our American Artisan Series watches. We now have 15 different colors to choose from including our two Horween Shell Cordovan options. These straps are made in the USA and are based on the Windup Model 2 Premium strap that Worn and Wound offers.
